#MeatlessMonday - Broccoli-Cheddar Soup #vegetarian

Photo courtesy of Juli via Flickr

I know it's summer (in this part of the world), so warm soup may be the furthest from your mind. However, I happen to love soup any day of the year! This is my crock pot, vegetarian version of a recipe I came across last week. It got the thumbs up from my two teens, which is saying something because it's green. Enjoy!

Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

Ingredients

2 heads broccoli, cut into small florets
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 cup carrots, sliced thin
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk, warmed
2 cups vegetable stock
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Saute onion in 1 tbsp of melted butter until transparent.
In a separate pot, make a roux by whisking in remainder of melted butter and ¼ cup flour.
Slowly whisk in warmed milk, and cook until mixture thickens.
Whisk in vegetable stock.
Transfer mixture into crock pot.
Add broccoli florets, carrots and sauteed onions.
Cook in crock pot on low until broccoli is tender.
Stir in cheese until melted. Add sour cream. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Blend until smooth (or leave it chunky, if you prefer).
Serve in a sourdough bread bowl.